Annika Invitational: Sacrifices away from course worth it to area juniors

Area golfers often forgo social activities to improve at sport

January 20, 2013|By Brendan Sonnone, Orlando Sentinel

KISSIMMEE — Sierra Brooks' schedule is tedious.

She spends her days in class at Lake Mary Prep and hones her golf game from the afternoon until it's too dark to see the ball. Brooks then heads home for dinner and does homework before she calls it a night.

The constant grind doesn't leave much time for anything outside of school and golf.

"Sometimes it's tough, but it's worth it," said Brooks, a freshman who lost in a playoff for the 2012 Class 1A individual state title. "I get to hang out with friends during the weekend, but there are definitely sacrifices being made.

"Friends will ask if I want to go to a movie, and I'll say, 'No, I'm getting ready to go to a golf tournament.'"

Brooks shot a 4-over-par 76 in the second round of the 54-hole Annika Invitational girls junior tournament at Reunion Resort on Sunday, putting her at 6-over at the event. Bethany Wu (71—139) holds a two-shot lead entering the final round Monday, while Circle Christian's Samantha Wagner and Windermere Prep's Simin Feng are tied for fourth place with three others at 142.

Brooks is one of many area girls golfers dealing with the rigors of juggling a budding golf career, school and — if time permits — a social life.

"I don't have to worry about boys as much because she's busy," Brent Brooks said with a laugh.

"The downside is, you want them to have their childhood and spend time with friends."

Sierra Brooks spends more than 20 hours a week practicing golf and is often catching up on classwork. She missed eight days of school this past semester traveling to American Junior Golf Association tournaments and other various events.

Wagner and Feng are in similar positions. They spend around the same amount of time a week golfing and often are competing on the junior tour.

Feng consciously spends time with non-golf friends so she doesn't burn herself out. On the contrast, Wagner gets most of her interaction with peers just once a week at her church's youth group or while golfing.

"I wish there was a little more time, but if you want to be good at something, you have to make sacrifices," said Wagner, University of Florida commit. "Everybody out here is doing that, so we all have that in common."

Tournament host and World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam said it is important for juniors not to focus solely on golf.

"It needs to be fun if you're going to do this for a long period of time," Sorenstam said. "If you don't rest, your body will crash. Also I think you have to have fun with your friends when you're 16, 17 years old. They're going to miss out on all of that, and it'll have long-term consequences if you ignore it early."

For Sierra Brooks, there is no other option. Golf is her passion.

"I'm doing this for a reason," she said. "I love golf and it's fun. Whenever I'm with my friends, I'm like, 'I should be golfing now.'"